IAA space exploration Conference and Heads of Space Agencies Summit

The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) will be holding two major events in Washington DC, USA: the IAA Space Exploration Conference on 9 January 2014 and the Heads of Space Agencies Summit on Exploration (Planetary Robotic and Human Spaceflight Exploration) on 10 January 2014. The two-day gathering will take place at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA.

The Heads of 30 Space Agencies will gather with policy-makers, government representatives, scientists, leading academics and industry representatives from all over the world to follow on from the 2010 Summit, engaging in dialogue on topics of international concern, in particular focussing on Planetary Robotic and Human Space Flight Exploration.

In addition, this IAA Summit will be taking place in conjunction with the International Space Exploration Forum (ISEF), a policy dialogue on space exploration at ministerial level, hosted for the first time by the US Department of State with the participation of Ministers and government representatives from around the world.

On January 9, while Ministers will be gathering for the restricted ISEF ministerial conference, the IAA will kick off with a one-day Space Exploration Conference. Six parallel sessions will take place on the topics of planetary robotic and human spaceflight exploration. In addition, participants and guests will witness the official release of ground-breaking IAA studies from Study Group leaders on exploration topics.

On 10 January, the Heads of Space Agencies Summit will see Agency leaders discussing on what has been implemented in terms of the 2010 Summit Declaration follow-on actions, focussing on the current outlook and tabling new ideas on international cooperation through a series of four interactive roundtables.

The Heads of Space Agencies Summit will conclude with a Press Conference open to the international media. Media representatives can register for free attendance of the two-day Conference and Summit by sending an email with personal data (first and last name, date of birth, place of birth, citizenship, passport/ID number and information on affiliation) to Dr. Jean-Michel Contant, IAA Secretary General, at sgeneral@iaamail.org

PROVISIONAL PRESS PROGRAMME

Thursday 9 January 2014

7:30 Opening of Press Center and Accreditation Formalities

9:00-12:00 Conference Sessions

12:00-13:30 Lunch Break

13:30-16:30 Conference Sessions Resume

Friday 10 January 2014

7:30 Opening Press Center and Accreditation Formalities

8:30-12:15 Heads of Space Agencies Summit Roundtables

12:15-13:15 Lunch Break

13:30-16:45 Heads of Space Agencies Summit Roundtables Roundup

17:00-18:00 Press Conference

18:30 Press Center Closes

Please check www.iaaweb.org for updated information on the programme.

All requests for interviews should be addressed to IAA Office at summit@iaamail.org

Note for Editors:

The IAA in a nutshell

The International Academy of Astronautics is an independent non-governmental international organization recognized by the United Nations in 1996. It was founded on 6 August 1960 by Theodore Von Karman in Stockholm, Sweden.

The IAA fosters the development of astronautics for peaceful purposes; recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in a related branch of science or technology; provides a programme through which members may contribute to international endeavors and encourages international cooperation in the advancement of aerospace science.

The IAA celebrated its 50th Anniversary in November 2010 at a meeting in Washington DC. On that occasion, thirty Heads of Space Agencies welcomed the IAA Declaration advocating renewed and enlarged cooperation in the area of human spaceflight, robotic space exploration, disaster management and climate change. The 2014 Space Exploration Conference and Heads of Space Agency Summit is the natural follow-on from the 2010 event.